U21 EUROPA CUP, OR NOT ? X LUCAS SEVESTRE

This is a difficult period that I go through…

I learned 2 weeks ago that I had a rupture of the posterior cruciate ligament of the right knee.
This ligament is used to avoid the tibia to move back relative to the knee, and this ruptures are frequently found in road crash. Me, it was during a Hockey game with the U21, at the 4 Nations in Poland.

This is the second major injuries that I get this season after my broken hand, but it doesn’t decrease my wish to participate to the U21 Europe Cup which will take place In Poland at the end of June… I had the luck to consult 2 specialists of the knee whom told me that I could play in July, but it was compulsory to reinforce my knee and all the musclse around to increase the stability. Since 2 weeks, I’m doing electro-stimulation, and strength on my quadriceps, at Home, after work or at INSEP with my physio. So I haven’t play Hockey for two weeks. I’m doing everything possible to reach the best level that I can before the 23th July, to be ready and perform well with France U21 at the Euro Cup. To prepare this tournament, 9 games with France A against Ireland, Spain, Pakistan and India could help me. After this summer, I would not be able to play for at least 3 months  to heal my ligament, because I may avoid a surgery, preferring a natural recovery.

I’ll let you know asap when I’ll be able to play again…

All the best and take care.

Kahlu.

GRYPHON DYNASTY x MITTON

The local paper in Perth, Western Australia (The West Australian) today has published an article about young gun Trent Mitton. You may have been reading Trent’s blogs here on Gryphon-Life.com.

One thing that his introduction omits is his lineage in the world of Hockey. Trent’s father, Grant (another Gryphon gun in his day, or arguably still is in some circles) was a member of the last World Cup winning team for Australia before the win earlier this year. Grant also played striker in the 1984 Olympics. The same World Cup winning team included Gryphon legends Ric Charlesworth and Peter Hazelhurst.

Trent’s move up forward this year has reaped him rewards with the Thundersticks and his first tour with the Kookaburras in Azlan Shah. Trent has moved forward to the striker position where his father was renowned for and making his mark in this year AHL games.  At only 19, Trent looks to have a bright future in Hockey.

If you want to read more about this new dynasty, grab the latest copy of the West Australian news paper.

CT10 WOMEN x POSTER x REBECCHI

As we have for previous Champions Trophies, Gryphon will be making some posters that’ll be available at these events. Pop into the Gryphon tents and grab a free poster then go and get them signed. Something to do between the matches, besides the eating and beverages.

Now we profile one of the up and coming, well actually she’s there already, front guns of the Las Leonas. The Argentineans are the defending champions of this tournament and Carla Rebecchi is a striker that delivers. She’s quick, skilled and score goals.  Look out for Carla at the Champions Trophy Nottingham 2o1o, if you can keep up.

Download Carla’s poster preview – this design is in Portrait and may not be perfect for a wallpaper – CT10_GRYPHON_REBECHI_POSTER (15)

PROMISING START – DISAPPOINTING FINISH x SHUBY

Hey People,

So Round 1 of the AHL is complete.  New format, new teams and the much talked about new penalty corners.  As for the results, it was a very up and down weekend for SA.

I was really looking forward to AHL this year as it would be the first time in about 8 years that I would get to play AHL in front of my home crowd, friends and family in South Australia.  Reasons being, I’ve been playing on and off in Holland since 2004 and finals week has not been held in Adelaide since I started playing with the team in 2000.  Not sure why!

Things started off very well with a 3-2 win over a Kookaburra-packed Queensland team on a cold Friday night. The Hotshots almost let it slip though after leading 3-1 with only a minute left on the clock. To QLD’s merit, they kept fight right until the very end.  Receiving a PC with a 1.20 left on the clock, Mark Knowles took it upon himself to slot one from the top of the circle with the most basic of PC variations.  Pushout-trap-run in-shoot.  Not many (including myself) thought they would have another chance with only 20 seconds left on the clock from the push back.  I think it was due to the inexperience of a young team not really knowing how to handle the situation that almost cost us.  Instead of maybe using an overhead to relieve the pressure and waste time we tried to hit it through the oncoming wall of QLD attackers, midfielders and defenders.  A hit they intercepted and with only seconds left on the clock earnt another PC.  Thankfully the hockey gods were on our side as we saved the PC and came away with maximum points. While we were under pressure for the entire 70m the team defended very well, with SA goalkeeper Kent Haigh continually making match winning saves.

Next came NT on Saturday.  This has always been a danger game for the Hotshots and no matter how well we are playing it is always a tough game.  The boys were feeling good from the previous nights match and knew a win today would put us into a very good position leading into the second round of matches.  Unfortunately we were put on the back foot from the very start, going a goal down within the first few minutes from an NT PC.  As the match went on, to me it almost felt like a role reversal from the QLD game.   SA having the lions share of the play but failing in its attempts to put a result on the score board.  Sometimes when this happens, pressure starts to slowly build on the team chasing, especially when you feel like you should be in front.  I actually always thought we’d be able to come back and it was just a matter of time.   Shots went wide and shots were saved, PC’s were played out and time slowly started to disappear. 1-0 down at half time, the second half was a repeat of the first.  NT scored within the first minute and defended well for the remainder of the game to win 2-0.

With about a minute left on the clock I received a bad hit with the ball to the foot which ended my match play for the weekend.  I had some x-rays done and was pleased to hear there were no broken bones.  Just bad bone bruising, meaning I should be ok to play this weekend and the second round of AHL.

Sunday wasn’t the best game for the Hotshots.   Generally we have done very well against WA over the past few years.  This was not to be one of them and they showed that they will again be at the top end of the ladder by seasons end.  WA played an aggressive, clinical style of game in the first half, putting away their opportunities with the scoreline reading 6-0 at half time.  For me it was very difficult to watch, considering how well the group had played only two nights before. The Hotties put up a better performance in the second half holding out WA for most of it only conceding one more goal.  So 7-0 was the final margin ending a disappointing weekend for the team after a promising start.

Still the guys are positive heading to Melbourne knowing that our best is good enough to compete with the top teams in the competition.  We just need to be more consistent with our performances, which is where the better teams come out on top.  So on to Melbourne with Victoria and Tassie in our sights.

Later

Shuby

CT10 WOMEN x POSTER x WALLPAPER x WALSH

It’s not long now until Nottingham and the 2010 Women’s Champions Trophy. Not far off that is the Mens turn at Munchengladbach in Germany.

As we have for previous Champions Trophies, Gryphon will be making some posters that’ll be available at these events. Pop into the Gryphon tents and grab a free poster then go and get them signed. Something to do between the matches, besides the eating and beverages.

First up we offer a sneak preview of Kate Walsh’s poster. Kate is an England institution. As captain and penalty corner specialist, the English team looks to Kate for leadership on and off the pitch. Look out for Kate at the Champions Trophy Nottingham 2o1o.

Download the Kate Walsh Poster 2010 Wallpaper – CT10_GRYPHON_WALSH_WALLPAPER (21)

AHL UNDERWAY x MITTS TAKE

G’day

Thought I would drop a line in, as I haven’t in a while…

The first round of the Australian Hockey League got underway on the weekend which saw the WA Thundersticks begin their attempt at three straight titles.
Our first game was against Northern Territory on friday which we came away with a 4-1 win with the new short corner rules coming into play numerous times. I played with a new stick which hadnt been knocked in so I was a bit nervous but it went well after a few shakey traps early on..
On Saturday we played Queensland in a rematch of last years final and again it was a tough match which ended in a draw when I was lucky enough to slip one past Australian Keeper Nathan Burgers, making it 1-1.
On Sunday everyone was feeling the effects of a tough previous two days but had to get up for the last game against South Australia, it turns out we did and put on an awesome display winning the game 7-0 and I was able to knock a couple in along the way..

All round great weekend for the WA Gryphon boys with Ferg Kavanagh and Graeme Begbie playing some sharp hockey also.

Bring on Round 2 and Victoria !

Cheers Mitts

GRASSROOTS x WA COUNTRY CHAMPS

This past weekend was marked by the first round of the Australian Hockey League [AHL] for Men. International players a plenty. But what else is happening around the hockey world?

In Perth, the Womens Western Australian Country Championships were played. Called country week, in the month of June three week long competitions are held for a massive amount of hockey clubs that are not based in the city. One competition each for men, women and juniors. Perth happens to be the most isolated capital city in the world, and the state of Western Australia is huge. Perth is closer to East Timor and Indonesia than it is Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane. WA itself is about 5 times the size of Texas or 20 times the size of England.

The towns are sparsely distributed. These country weeks are  big deal. Huge amounts of teams and players influx into Perth and play great hockey at the home of Hockey in Australia, where the Hockeyroos and Kookaburras play and train.  It’s a great experience.

With this in mind, below is the an article in the Kalgoorlie (about 600km east of Perth) newspaper today about the tournament. Their team came second in division one, but looking at the coverage that the paper gives, it’s not taken lightly. The photo features Ashlee Lavery running deep in attack in the final with her Gryphon Taboo Magnum.

These events are supported heavily by a Gryphon Premium retailer in F-H-E.com as a major sponsor.

Up next are the Junior Country championships held at the same arena.

For more photos of the Mens and Womens finals days of these events at grassroots hockey, DC’s gallery has the latest.

CT10 WOMEN x NEW ZEALAND

Entering into the Champions Trophy again this year after having not been in Sydney last year, New Zealand are prepped and ready to show they are a strong hockey nation. The Black Sticks Captain, Krystal Forgesson leads a group of Gryphon Girls over to Nottingham next month.

Anita Punt

Laura Douglas

Krystal Forgesson

Katie Glynn

Katie Glynn, who played in the Junior World Cup in Boston last year, will play her first Champions Trophy and will look to be a spearhead in attack even at such a young age.

CT10 WOMEN x LAS LEONAS

Nottingham, England.  The 2010 Womens Champions Trophy will take place here between the 10th and 18th of July.

Today the reigning champions, the Argentinian Las Leonas squad was announced. Obviously happy with the performances of the team that took the title in Sydney the same four Gryphon Girls have been named to try and keep hold of the title:

Soledad Garcia

Marine Russo

Alenjandra Gulla

Carla Rebechi

In 2010, the Argentineans looked the strongest team but had to beat the Hockeyroos in a penalty shootout to take the title. This time, in England, Australia will not be at the Champions Trophy. Young striker Carla Rebechi looked exceptionally strong in Sydney and having another year of senior hockey under her belt she’ll be one to watch in Nottingham.

HOCKEYROO SHAKEUP – GY GIRLS REPRESENT

This week saw some changes from the fallout post-AHL for the Australian Womens National squad. The Hockeyroos leave on the 11th of June to head to Europe for over three weeks on tour. The shake-up has given a few younger players a chance to play on the big international stage against some of the best teams in the world, including Germany and England.

In the senior touring group the G-Team is strongly represented with:
Teneal Attard, Emily Hurtz, Kate Jenner & Fiona Johnson.

Taking a break back in Oz are Heather Langham, Sarah O’Connor, Jane Bennett, Bianca Greenshields, Jodie Schultz, Elise Stacy and new elevation Jill Dwyer.

Kate Jenner will player her first ever senior international game after being elevated straight to the senior squad by-passing the development squad.

Jill Dwyer makes the Australian Development squad after a good showing at the Junior World Cup last year and AHL this year.

Photos: Daniel Carson | DCIMAGES.ORG

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